[04] Nicosia and Pafos to compete for 2017 European Capital of Culture

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President of the Republic Demetris Christofias has called on Turkey to
abandon its gunboat diplomacy and instead adopt a policy of
conciliation and compromise.

The President made the remarks during visits to National Guard and
Hellenic Forces of Cyprus camps to wish the soldiers and the officers
for Christmas and the New Year.

President Christofias said that if Turkey does not change its gunboat
diplomacy and stop playing the part of regional police officer there
will be consequences which, for sure, will not be good neither for the
whole region nor the Turkish people and foremost, the Turkish
Cypriots.

``I want to believe,`` he added, ``that the prospects of finding
natural gas will force Turkey to have second thoughts and follow a
policy of conciliation and compromise both with Greece and Cyprus, to
create the conditions for a truly peaceful future of cooperation and
peace for all people of the region, including the Turkish people``.

He also said that colonization is way more unacceptable than occupation
for the people of Cyprus, regardless of which community they belong to,
adding that the victims of colonization are first and foremost the
Turkish Cypriots, who feel that they are losing their Cypriot identity
and are greatly worried.

Despite being disappointed with the behavior of Turkey and the Turkish
Cypriot leadership at the talks, we are optimistic about the future, he
noted, adding that Greece and Cyprus are striving together to get rid
of the occupation and colonization.

Moreover, he expressed his readiness to continue striving hard towards
the solution of the Cyprus problem that will bring to an end Turkey`s
occupation of the island divided since the Turkish invasion in 1974.

He expressed the conviction that everyone will live in a reunified
homeland of peace and cooperation together with our Turkish Cypriot
compatriots who also pay the price of the occupation as they are losing
their identity.

President Christofias said that Turkey does not care for Turkish
Cypriot, adding that Turkish Cypriots are also protesting against
Turkey`s illegal occupation and colonization of the island.

He said that he is in contact with Turkish Cypriots and is in a
position to know very well how they feel, apart from the Turkish
Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglou.

He also expressed the need to combat nationalism existing in the Greek
Cypriot community.

President Christofias stressed that a patriotic act is anything which
will lead to a decent compromise that will reunite Cyprus and its
people in conditions of peace and friendship between the two
communities and terminate the occupation and colonization of the
island.

In addition, he expressed the wish that 2012 will bring a peaceful,
viable and functional solution to the Cyprus problem that will reunite
the country, divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion.

Asked to comment on a statement made by State Department spokeswoman
Victoria Nuland calling on the two sides in Cyprus to roll up their
sleeves to find a solution to the Cyprus problem, he said that our
sleeves are always rolled up and our spirit is lifted and opened.

He called on both the US and the UK to turn towards Turkey to
contribute substantially to the talks. President Christofias urged the
State Department to turn towards Turkey, noting that we have all the
good will to reach a solution.

Asked to comment on the statement of the State Department spokeswoman
concerning the exploratory drillings of Cyprus in its Exclusive
Economic Zone and that the US would like to see the benefits of that
exploration shared among all Cypriots in the context of a full
settlement of issues between them, he said that we do not need pleas
from whomsoever to do what is evident to us, in the event Turkey
decides to change its stance and help put an end to occupation and
colonization through a viable and functional solution.

He said that the natural resources of the Republic of Cyprus belong to
all Cypriots, adding that it is agreed in the talks that the
responsibility for natural resources belongs to the central government
and the federal government.

Turkey, whose troops occupy Cyprus northern part since they invaded in
1974, does not recognise the Republic of Cyprus. UN led Cyprus talks
are underway with the participation of the leaders of the two
communities in Cyprus with an aim to reach a solution that would
reunify the island under a federal roof.

Following a decision by Nicosia to begin natural gas and oil
exploration in its exclusive economic zone, Ankara has deployed
warships in the Eastern Mediterranean and has signed an illegal
agreement with the Turkish Cypriot regime in occupied Cyprus to
delineate what it calls continental shelf.

Drilling has already begun and is being carried out by Houston-based
Noble Energy, off Cyprus south-eastern coast.

The government of Cyprus has protested to the UN and the EU Turkeys
moves, saying it has a sovereign right to exploit its natural
resources, pointing out that Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots will
benefit from any benefits that may come from oil drilling.

Cyprus has signed an agreement to delineate the Exclusive Economic Zone
with Egypt and Israel with a view to exploit any possible natural gas
and oil reserves in its EEZ. A similar agreement has been signed with
Lebanon but the Lebanese Parliament has not yet ratified it.

Cyprus Attorney-General Petros Clerides said he will lodge an appeal to
the Supreme Court against the Assize Court`s majority ruling to acquit
the five defendants over a fatal air crash in 2005 in which 121 persons
died.

The Court ruled by majority (two to one) that there was not sufficient
evidence linking the defendants to the air crash and as such they bear
no responsibility for the crash.

``I have read the ruling of the majority as well as that the minority
and I have received the views of the prosecutors who handled the case
and we have unanimously concluded that an appeal against the majority
ruling is justified,`` Clerides said, noting that the existence of a
dissenting opinion justifies his view than an appeal should be lodged.

He added that the appeal will be lodged within the next 14 days, adding
that the arguments to be presented to the Supreme Court will be exactly
the same as those presented to the Assize Court.

The Attorney-General defended the work of the prosecutors, reiterating
that the case was difficult.

``The Law Office, the Police and the State in general have exhausted
all means at their disposal so that the Court could reach a
conviction,`` he said.

[04] Nicosia and Pafos to compete for 2017 European Capital of Culture
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Nicosia and Pafos are the two candidate cities that were preselected
for the designation of the European Capital of Culture in 2017,
outbidding the third candidate city, Limassol.

The decision, taken by a special selection committee, comprised by
experts, was announced by European Commissioner for Education, Culture,
Multilingualism and Youth Androulla Vassiliou, during a Press
Conference at the Ministry of Education and Culture, in Nicosia.

Vassiliou said the preselected candidacies will have the chance to work
further on their bid, before the final selection stage, on September
2012, when the team of experts will finalize its decision. The city to
host the European Capital of Culture is expected to be announced on May
2013 by the Council of Ministers of the EU, the Commissioner noted.

She further said that early January a report by the team of experts
will be made available, containing suggestions to both candidate cities
on how to improve their bids. The report will also explain the reasons
for deciding against the Limassol bid, the Commissioner said.

Speaking on the broader goals of the European Capital of Culture,
Vassiliou referred to the promotion and celebration of Europes rich
cultural heritage and of common understanding and intercultural
dialogue.

Minister of Education and Culture Giorgos Demosthenous said from his
part that his Ministry will reinforce financially the final selection
with 5 mln euros for covering the citys operational costs, starting
from 2013.